Pic of the Day--Royal Standard

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Apr 30, 2007 10:47 am

Hi All--Today's variety, Royal Standard, is one of the real classics and has the distinction of being the first patented hosta cultivar, way back in 1965. It has been in our garden since 1993, growing in close to full shade. Royal Standard has a very good growth rate, isn't very attractive to slugs, and has great flowers. Our plant's size has stabilized at about 60x31, in line with Zilis's listing of 63x26.

Registry - http://www.hostaregistrar.org/detail.ph ... 20Standard

MyHostas - http://myhostas.be/db/hostas/Royal+Standard

Hosta Library - http://www.hostalibrary.org/r/royal-standard.html

playinmud · Post by **playinmud** » Apr 30, 2007 4:49 pm

I love the oldies Hank, and this is one of them that I don't have. What color are the flowers, and are they fragrant?

Thanks for posting, I always enjoy seeing the different varieties.

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Apr 30, 2007 5:46 pm

HI--Your questions are the kind that JGH usually answers before they are even asked.

However, as a plant with plantaginea as one of its parents, it has pure white, fragrant flowers.

thy · Post by **thy** » Apr 30, 2007 7:51 pm

Smell it on a late August night.. you can find if with your eyes closed.. it is very fragrant

jgh · Post by **jgh** » May 01, 2007 9:32 am

Wow, Pia... that is EXACTLY what my wife said about me last night!

jgh · Post by **jgh** » May 01, 2007 9:42 am

Hank's already given the history basics on RS. For the landscape industry, it was/is an important plant. Plantaginea has those great fragrant flowers... but it does tend toward the chartreuse end of the green range. RS is darker green and faster growing... and it looks good in a pot, which makes it easier to sell in the spring. Oh... and it seems to have inherited sun tolerance from the plantaginea in its background... one of the best darker greens for bright sun.

RS isn't a member of a large family. It has limited fertility, so there aren't a lot of seedlings claiming RS parentage. And it doesn't sport a lot, so even though there are some named sports around, there is only one I see around a lot - Hoosier Harmony is a gold-centered, green margined sport that was introduced by the Indianapolis Hosta Society.

Pieter · Post by **Pieter** » May 01, 2007 9:43 am

JGH, your wife refer to you like mine does to me sometimes: 'hey smelly'

eastwood2007 · Post by **eastwood2007** » May 01, 2007 9:54 am

I love RS...It had been given to me by a friend who didn't know what it was, and you all identified it for me from photos. To me, it looks so stately and the flowers are truly magnificent. Just like you say, you can smell it from a long way off. The green color is definitely not ordinary, either, I don't think. I am really glad I was able to find out its name, it was so sad to be so beautiful and no handle!

thy · Post by **thy** » May 01, 2007 2:49 pm

Jim... not sure you smell the same way

Could not remember how to speel to scented.. is it correct ? last nite and was to lazy to go upstairs for a dictionary

But doesn't it smell iven if it a good one when you pass by something

Not sure what I ment was : Den dufter helt vidunderligt en sen august aften

Arlene · Post by **Arlene** » May 01, 2007 8:30 pm

Like Charla, mine were a gift from someone -- actually someone I've never met: the son of a friend! Hosta people really are nice! I, too, identified them by their characteristics, and a year or so ago moved them from under the Killer Silver Maple, where they did okay -- but I'm expecting GREAT things from them this year!!

wzbt03 · Post by **wzbt03** » May 01, 2007 9:11 pm

I was going to take this one out of the garden this year after putting it in last season but all your comments have made me change me mind and give it a chance.

irawon · Post by **irawon** » Nov 30, 2012 10:23 am

I bought one Royal Standard in the late seventies. When it outgrew its spot, I divided it in two ( Picture #1). I've divided these two clumps many times, so that I now have 10 clumps each at least five feet in diameter and I've given many divisions away. It grows like a weed and is tough. One winter I left one division on the ground unplanted and it survived. There are four RSs around the western edge of the rock in picture #3 which shows its upright form in spring.